Reversing mechanism for internal combustion engines



REVERSING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Nov. 24, 1931. R. HiLDEBRAND Filed Feb. lO, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1931. R. HILDEBRAND REVERSING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. lO, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v X u Patented Nov. y 24, 1931 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REINHARD HILDEBRAND, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 FULTON IRON WORKS COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REVRSING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application led February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,114.

vThis Ainvention relates generally to reversing mechanisms of the kind employed particularly in connection with engines of the Diesel type for changing the direction of rotation of the crank shaft, and particularly to reversing mechanisms of the type in which the change in direction is effected by changing .the operativerelationship between the rocker arms, or valve-actuating devices, and two separate anddistinct sets of camsl on the cam shaft, one of whichcooperates with the rocker arms when the crankshaft is rotating in one direction and the other when the crank shaft is rotating in the opposite direction, the predomina-nt object of thel invention being to provide a mechanism of this type which is very simple in construction and extremely eiiicientin operation. A

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a'reversing m'echanism'of the type referred to which is simplified by utilizing the rocker arm shaft of the engine as the supporting and actuating shaft of the reversing mechanism. In other words, the rocker arm shaft of an engine equipped. with my improved reversing mechanism performs a dual function in that it acts(a) in its original capacity as the rocker arm shaft, and (b) serves as the'supporting vshaft and means for actuating the reversing mechanism.

Fig. l is aplan view of aV portion of an engine. of the Diesel type equipped with my improved reversingmechanism.

I Fig. 2 isv a section on line 2-'42 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 is a sectional detail illustrating one of theroller arms of theimproved reversing mechanism andv indicating the manner in which the rolls are associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. In the drawings,lwherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodi- 'inentf of the invention, A designates the rocker arms, or valve-actuating devices, of an f 4 y engine of the Dieseltype, and B designates a cam shaft'on which cams are mounted which actuate the rocker arms. The crank shaft (not shown) of the engine is operatively connected in the usual manner with the cam shaft B. In order that the direction of rotation of the crank shaft of the engine may be reversed the cam shaft B is provided with sets of cams, there being a pair of such cams cooperatively associated with each rocker arm A; that is to say, each rocker arm A has associated with it a cam 1 with which said rocker armis caused to cooperate when it is desired to have the crank shaft rotate in one direction, and another cam 2 with which the rocker arm is caused to cooperate when it is desired to have the crank shaft rotate in the opposite direction.

The rocker arms of the engine illustrated in the drawings are mounted in the usual manner on the rocker arm shaft C; that is to say, the rocker arm shaft C serves as a fulcrum member on which said rocker arms are loosely mounted for pivotal movement, and end portions A of said rocker arm are arranged to actuate certain valves of the engine. At the end of each rocker arm opposite to the end A thereof I pivotally attach at the point 3 thereof an arm 4, said arm being extended downwardly from its point of pivotal connection toward the cam shaft B. The arms 4, preferably, comprise each a pair of spaced arm elements 4 Fig. 4) which are connected together by a transverse bar 5 so that a unitary arm structure is provided, and the lower end of each arm element is flared outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. Disposed between the lower portion of the arm elements 4 of each arm 4 is a pair of rollers 6 and 7, said rollers 6 and 7 bein;- offset transversely of the arm with respect to each other, and being arranged in overlapping relation.y The rollers 6 and 7 are mounted for rotary movement on short shafts 8 and 9 which are supported by thelower end portions of the spaced arm elements 4', and said rollers are maintained in their proper longitudinal positions on said short shafts by spacing collars, which are cut away as indicated'at 10 in Fig. 3V so as to avoid `interference between said collars and said rollers 6 and 7.

The spacing of the rollers 6 and 7 transversely'of the arms 4 is such that said rollers are alined vertically With the Cams l and 2 on the cam shaft B; in othervvo-rds, the cam 1 and the roller 6, and the cam 2 and the'roller 7, respectively, Will be alined vertically. In this connection it'Will be noted by referring to Fig. 2-that only one of eaclipairofroll'ers 6 and 7 associated with an arm 4 Will b e in contact With a cam on the cani shaft at any time, the arrangement of saidrollers being such that it is not possi-blote-bringboth roll?-l ers associated 4With an, arni4l1lto cooperation with both of the cams on the camshaft B with WhichV said rollers are` adapted tolA cooperate.

The .rocker arm shaft C is arranged for axial rota-tiongand is provided with a handk .wheel C (Figp2.) 'or otherisuitable means for effecting such rotation', and. mounted onf said roelrery armshaft at points adjacent. to each of the rockerl arms" A is a.; .pair of-rspaced eccentrics 11:.`V The 'eccentricsl11 are provided with split collar portions 12 with Which Cil Withjt'he' cam; '1. rotationof the be moved froma position Where the Yrollclam-ping bolts 13 areV associated, lwhereby said; eccentrics are rigidly iiXedf tosaid rocker ar-inshaft; Associated with each, eccentric 11T-iiithe usual manneris an eccentricY strap 14,, said; eccentric strapbeing: provided Vwith a-rniportion .15 which extends toward the associated 4,4 and said armportion-'is provided with: a; clamping portion 15 kat its eXtreme outer end. By referringfto Figzql itjwillbenotedthat the eccentrics of anv` assorockerinavbe rotated? axiallyv to through: the instrucause the eccentrics 11, mentality ofthe eccentric-strarps#14I and arm portionsl-,to svi/ing the roller arms4 ont-heir pivots Such movementof the arms 4 Will result in 'saidr arms ybeing lmoved from thepo- ,y itionillustrated" in Fig.. ,Where'y the roller 6 is in: cooperative'eiigagement With the cam 1S, to 'apositionv Whereftheroller 7Would be in; cooperative `engagement Withthe cam 2I and'fsai'd roller ("iwoul'd'be out' of engagement A in like'A manner byh reverse rocker arm shaft the arm 4 er7`is'in cooperative engagement Withitlie A cani '-2- to position Yvvherethe roller 6 is in engagement Withgthe camel. and

the roller 7 is out of engagementwith the rollers to saidrocker arms; and means for adjusting thepositionsofsaid rollers so as to 'cause predetermined lcams on the cam shaft to be engaged by certain rollers associated With the rocker arms', said means for adjustingthe positions ofthe rollers comprising an eccentrically actuated. member connected. to said meansfor pivotally connecting the rollers to the rocker'arms;4 j 1 y 2, Aninternal combustion engine comprisinga camV shaft on which: camsaretmounted for regulating, the directionofHopera-tion of the engine, valve-actuating rocker arms, a rocker arm shaft for supportingasaid rocker arms, cam-engaging1 rollers` associated; with said rocher arms, means for pivotally connesting said rollers tovl said roclrerrarms, and meansfor adjusting the positionsfofsaid rollersso. asi-to cause predetermined-cams; on the cam shaft to-be engaged byfee'rtainrollers associated With-the rocker arm's,saidmeans for adjustingthefpositionsofthe rollers comprising an eccentrically actuated member mounted onl said rocker-armshaft and connected to sai-di means? for pivotall'y connectingn the rollers-tothe rocker arms; Y Y f f Y 3. Ani internal combustionengine comprising aicani shaft on: which cams are mounted for regulatingjthe direction of operationV of the engine, v-valve-actuating; rocker?` arms, a rockerarm-shaft forsupporting said v'rocker arms, camz-engagingry rollers vassociated WithV said rocker arms, means for pivotally connecting said-rollers to said rocker'arms,"and.y means for adjusting the-'positions of said rollers so asto causepredeterminedwcamson the cam shaft tobefengaged-t by! certain rollers associated With the rocker arms, said means for' adjusting fthepositions of .the rollers. comprising., an :eccentrically-l actuated. member mountedi on said rockerarmshaft-and connected to said-means for pivota-lly' connecting-the roll-J ers totherocker arms, said yrocker armshaft being rotatablem toV impart; movement. `to said roller-adjusting means.-

Y An internal combustion;enginecomprising acamyshaft on-Whieh cams aremounted for regulating the direction-of operation of the. engineY valve-actuating'rockerz arms, 'a'

rocker arm shaft for/supporting;said'rocker iio arms, cam-engaging rollers associated with said rocker arms, means for pivotally connecting said rollers to said rocker arms, and means for adjusting the positions of said rollers so as to cause predetermined cams on the cam shaft to be engaged by certain rollers associated with said rocker arms, the last-mentioned means including an eccentric mounted on said rocker arm shaft, and a member cooperable with said eccentric and connected to said means for connecting the rollers to the rocker arms, whereby said means may be subjected to movement in response to rotary movement of the rocker arm shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto aiix my signature.

REINHARD HILDEBRAND. 

